Stacking cot and litter construction



June 9, 1953 F. L. DAVIS 2,640,996

STACKING COT AND LITTER CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 25, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet1 j IN V EN TOR.

FRANK L. DAVIS F169 BY June 9, 1953 F. DAVIS 2,640,996

STACKING COT AND LITTER CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 25,. 1951 i 5Sheets-Sheet 2 FRANK L. DAVIS INVEN TOR.

J1me 1953 F. L. DAVIS 72,640,995

STACKING COT AND LITTER CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 23, 1951 3 Shee ts-Sheet5 FIG. 19

.|Il ll ll FRANK L. DAVIS F I G INVENTOR.

Patented June 9, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STACKING COT ANDLITTER CONSTRUCTION The invention herein disclosed relates to stretcherand litter constructions, and the general objects of the invention areto provid a complete, self-contained device of this character which canbe used on the field as a stretcher or litter and be converted, asrequired, to a cot or bed and stacked or tiered for transportation orhospitalization without disturbing the patient or casualty.

Particularly it is a purpose of the invention to provide a litter ofthese possibilities which will be foldable, in the first instance, incompact form occupying but small space, which while of light Weight willbe of strong, durable construction in each of its several uses, and of adesign which can be readily produced in quantity and at reasonably lowcost.

Other desirable objects attained by the invention are set forth or willappear in the course of the following specification in which the novelfeatures of the invention are described and broadly claimed.

The drawings accompanying and forming part of the specificationillustrate certain present embodiments of the invention but structureand arrangement may be modified and changed as regards the presentillustration, all Within the true intent and broad scope of theinvention as hereinafter defined and claimed.

Fig. l in the drawings is an end view showing the litter in compacted,folded relation;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the folded litter;

Figs. 3 and 4 are similar end and side views showing the litter openedor expanded, ready for use simply as a stretcher or as a litter forsupporting an injured person.

Figs. 5 and 6 are similar end and side views showing the legs of thelitter as thrown down and secured to form a cot or bed structure;

Figs. '7 and 8 are end and side views, respectively, showing how onelitter may be stacked on top of another;

Fig. 9 is an end elevation showing how two rows of the stacked littersmay be braced by a connection or connections, affording an aisle betweenadjacent rows of litters;

Fig, 10 is an enlarged, broken side elevation illustrating details ofthe means for securing the legs and stretcher bars;

Fig. 11 is a broken bottom plan View of the same;

Fig. 12 is a broken end view illlustrating details of the connectionbetween adjoining stacks;

Figs. 13 and 14 are broken :plan views illustratil'lg modified forms ofpivotal connections for the spreader bars;

Fig. 15 is a broken side elevation illustrating a modified form ofinterlocking connection between the legs and spreader bars;

Fig. 16 is a broken end elevation of the litter showing also the methodof connecting the tie bars in this form of construction;

Fig. 1'7 is an end elevation of the litter set up as a cot and having anapron or cover form of attachment applied thereto;

Fig. 18 is a plan view of the cover attachment showing stiffening orcarrying poles applied to the longitudinal edges of the same;

Fig. 19 is an end elevation showing the cover attached to the cot andfolded over a patient;

Fig. 20 is an end view showing the cover separated from the cot and usedas a restraining jacket;

Fig, 21 is an end elevation showing how the cover, detached from thestretcher, may be used to shift a patient, with the least disturbance,onto a stretcher, or possibly at the hospital to carry a patient fromthe stretcher to an operating table or the like;

Fig. 22 is an end view showing how the cover, attached to the stretcher,may be used to roll a patient onto the stretcher, or possibly to turnthe stretcher over the patient, after which the cover, fully attached tothe stretcher, may be used to hold the patient while the stretcher isbeing turned back upright.

Essentially the litter consists of the poles or side bars I, thedownwardly pivoting legs 2 and the spreader bars 3 swinging inwardly toeffect separation of the side bars and tensioning of the canvas 4.

Figs. 1 and 2 show how in the folded relation the legs 2 extend alongthe outer sides of the side bars and the spreader bars 3 extend inalignment along the lower edges of the side bars so as to take up theleast space possible.

Fig. 3 and 4 show the spreader bars 3 swung inward to separate the sidebars and set up the device as a litter which may be rested upon theground or other support with the wide end portions I4 of the spreadersserving as feet or rests for supporting at a proper level for takingcare of a person being carried on the litter.

Figs. 5 and'6 show the legs 2 lowered to make the device into a cot orbed which may be used as such for hospitalization or other care of aninjured person.

In this condition the legs are located in extended relation by means ofplates 5 carried by the end portions of the spreader bars 3 which maydrop down into alignment with securing bolts l5 projecting from the legsand carrying the wing nuts I I.

The plates 5 are shown in Figs. and 12 as slotted at their lower ends,at Hi, to lower over the bolts I 5 and as held in vertically slidablerelation on the spreader bars by screws l3 extending through slots 18 inthe plates.

The legs are shown pivotally connected at the sides of the sidebarsbywing bolts I9. which may be tightened to take up for wear and to holdthe legs when not in use, snugly against the sides of the bars.

As a further means of retainingthe; legs in folded relation at the sidesof the side bars- I, washers 6 are shown secured beneath the side bars,projecting slightly outward beyond the edges of these bars, as shownin-Eig. 11,..to catch and hold the legs in upraised relation, asindicated in Figs. 2 and 4.

The spreader bars 3 are shown in Figs. 10 and 11 as pivotally connectedbeneath the side bars by long carriage bolts 20 or the like. Thespreader elements or bars 3onopposite side-bars are pivotallyconnectedatthe center to automatically lock the side bars inthe extendedrelation, for example, according to conventional practice, by having,thesepivotally connected members swing past adead center position.

Fig. 11 illustrates this effect, showing the spreader bars 3.pivotallyconnected at 2| to an angle plate-'3, servingasa: stop to'holdthe bars in the past-center position.

The sidebarsl may'haveloopsof rope or webbing 9 connected. therewithwhich may be used for carryingpurposes or'forysecuring the litters. whenstacked, Fig. 6, or possibly fO1.Securing the litters in fully foldedcondition.

Stacking. of the litters when .set upas cots, is made possible byproviding the upper ends of the legs with extendedsleevesv I0.which,-.with the legs in the vertical .position shownzin'Figs. 6 and10, will form open-sockets to receive the. lower ends of the legs on anupper cot, as indicated in Figs. '7, 8 and 9.

The extension sleeves III are? in the nature of open thimblessecured onthe upperr ends of the legs 2 and: may, as-shown, beer the. same. rec.-tangular cross section as these legs. In such case they provide a:desirable reinforcement and pivotal mounting for the legs.

Fig. 9 shows howtwo rows obstacked cots may be braced toform.amore-substantial structure by means of cross connections! which: may behooked at the ends, asindicated at' 22, Fig. 12, into openings providedfor the purpose in angled flange portions at the upper ends of platesi.

These cross connections 1 may be telescopic or otherwise longitudinallyadjustable in character, as indicated at l2- in- Figs. 9 and 12, topermit various spacing of the two rows of cots.

The cross connections-1 may be-applied to the upper cots of the rows soas to leave a clearzaisle space below, between the rows of superposedcots.

Constructed as disclosed, the litter is a complete unit which willfoldinto small; space and which can be openedor'spaoeid firstto forma litteror stretcher and then the legs extended to form a cot, and finally,.thecots stacked firmly and securely one on topof the-other. Additionally,two rows of cots may-be braced by tying them together to steady the tworows and obtain the advantage of a wide base. practically equivalent tothe spacing of the. two rows with the. aisle therebetween.

In the completely folded position or in use simply as a litter, as inFigs. 2 and 4, respectively, the legs are securely held in theirupwardly hinged relation but may be quickly released and lowered to forma cot or bed. In this lowered condition the legs are rigidly held by thebolts I5 and wing nuts II, and the securing of these bolts to the plates5 on the spreaders locks both the spreaders and the legs in theirextended relation.

The sockets l0. provided on the upper ends of the-legs serve to'securelyinterlock any number of cots in stacked relation and effect areinforcing of the upper, pivoted ends of the legs.

Theunit-may be made up in wood or metal and vis'of a design to bereadily produced in quantity and at reasonable cost.

Fig. 13'shows how the spreader bars 3 may be. connectedsimply by a butthing-e form of connection 23.

.InzFig. 14 the spreader bars are shown connected by a channel iron 24fixed to one membet, the. lower bard in this case, and carrying thepivot 25 for theother member.

Figs. 15 and 16 show how the feet for the litter may. be. provided byu-shaped shoes 26 secured overthe ends of thespreader bars 3, providinglocking plates slotted at'28 to receive the bolts [5 which in this.instance are mounted to swing np and downin the slots 29.cut in. thelegs 2.

These U-shaped locking plates are further shown perforated at 30, at thebottom, to receive the hooked ends of the tie connections 1 betweenadjoining tiers of cots.

These views also show how side bars I may carry rubbing-angles 2! forthe pivotal connections I!) of thelegs.

To facilitate transfer of injured to and from the litter, an apron orcover 3| may be used having loops 32 along-a central longitudinal linefor insertion of a carrying pole and straps-33 projecting from one'edgefor connection-with buckles 34, Fig. 17, connected with one of the siderails of the litter.

This apron3l, which may be in the form of a canvas. sheet orv blanket ofapproximately the size of the litter, may be detachably connected by:slidefasteners along one side of the canvas of the litter,.as indicatedat 35.

Additionally this: sheet. may be provided with the straps 36 oppositethe straps 33 on the farther edge of the. sheet and carrying buckles 31cooperable with straps33.

The straps33 and '36 .where they are. connected with the sheet, maybeformed with the loops 4| for reception of carrying or stilfening poles38, Fig. 18.

Fig. 19 shows how the cover 3|, when attached to thelitter by a zipperor other fastenings 35 at one edge, may be folded over a patient,represented at 39, and secured to hold the patient on the litter.

Fig. 20 shows how the'cover 3|, when separated from the litter, may besecured by the buckles 31 to confine or restrain the patient.

Fig. 21 shows how the cover, on supporting poles 38, may be slippedbeneath badly injured persons to lift them onto the litter, and Fig. 22shows how the cover may be connected along one edge, at 35, to thelitter for rolling a person over onto the litter, or, conversely,rolling the litter over onto the patient and then thepatient back ontothelitter.

The buckles 34 by which the free edge of the cover 3| may be securedover the patient on the litter are shown in Fig, I! as carried by-strapsSecured to one of the side bars'of thelitter, at 40.

The loops 32 along the center and loops 4| along the longitudinal edgesof the cover sheet 3|, may be provided by strips secured along thecentral and edge portions of the sheet, and these strips may be extendedat the ends beyond the end edges of the sheet to provide hand receivingloops.

The sheet or apron 3| may be secured to the litter in other ways than bymeans of the longitudinally extending zipper connection 35, for example,by means of connecting straps or by means of loops at the ends of thesheet which may be slipped over the ends of the carrier poles or sidebars I of the litter.

What is claimed is:

1. A stacking cot and litter construction comprising side bars, spreaderbars pivotally connected beneath said side bars and of a height to serveas the feet for supporting the unit in use as a litter, legs pivoted tothe sides of said side bars in position to swing downward to form a cot,sockets on the upper ends of said legs of a size to receive the lowerends of the legs of a superposed cot to enable stacking of a number ofthe cots described and releasable means for securing the legs in loweredposition relative to said spreader bars and including slide plates onsaid spreader bars having flange portions and adjustable tie barsengageable at their ends with said flanged portions for connecting andbracing adjoining rows of stacked cots.

2. A litter as herein disclosed comprising side bars and flexible bodysupporting material connecting the same, spreader bars pivotallyconnected together and pivotally connected beneath said side bars, legshingedly connected at the sides of said side bars and means releasablyconnecting said legs in lowered relation with said spreader bars forsecuring of said parts in fixed relation and including bolts on saidlegs and slide plates on said spreader bars forked to engage over saidbolts.

3. A litter as herein disclosed and comprising side bars, flexible bodysupporting material carried by said side bars, spreader bars hingedlyconnected together and hingedly connected with said side bars, legspivotally supported on said side bars for lowering into littersupporting position and interlocking means for connecting the legs inlowered relation with the spreader bars for releasably securing saidspreader bars in extended relation and said pivoted legs in lowered,supporting position.

4. A litter as herein disclosed and comprising side bars, flexible bodysupporting material carried by said side bars, an apron of flexiblematerial detachably connected along one edge with said litter andprovided with means for securing the same over the top of said litterand means for enabling the attachment of supporting poles to said apronindependently of the connection of the same to said litter.

5. A litter of the character disclosed comprising side bars, bodysupporting material carried by said side bars, spreader bars hingedlyconnected together and hingedly connected with said side bars andU-shaped shoes enclosing the sides and lower edges of said spreader barsand forming feet for supporting the litter, said U-shaped shoes beingslotted in the lower edges of the same, feet pivotally connected withthe side bars and bolts carried by said feet and engageable in the slotsin said U-shaped shoes for securing said spreader bars and feet in theextended relation described.

6. A litter of the character disclosed comprising side bars, bodysupporting material carried by said side bars, spreader bars hingedlyconnected together and hingedly connected with said side bars andU-shaped shoes enclosing the sides and lower edges of said spreader barsand forming feet for supporting the litter, said U- shaped shoes beingslotted in the lower edges of the same, feet pivotally connected withthe side bars and bolts carried by said feet and engageable in the slotsin said U-shaped shoes for securing said spreader bars and feet in theextended relation described, said feet being vertically slotted and saidbolts being pivotally engaged in the slotted portions of said feet forswinging vertically into and out of holding relation with respect tosaid shoes.

FRANK L. DAVIS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 919,159 Goddard Apr. 20, 1909 972,462 Merrill Oct. 11, 19102,305,981 Mollenhour et al. Dec. 22, 1942 2,349,023 Van Der Hyde May 16,1944 2,449,767 Carpenter Sept. 21, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 9,045 France Aug. 11, 1908 484,146 France June 18, 1917 294,768Germany Oct. 25, 1916

